Spinal adjustment apparatus



March 1, 1938.. L. A. POLITIS SPINAL ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mgg,

March l, A A. POU-|15 SPINAL ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNHTED STATES rATI-:T ortica SPINAL ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS Application April 9, 1936, Serial No. 73,551

13 Glaimsl This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spinal adjustment apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanical device for reducing or removing a luxation of the spinal vertebrae.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spinal adjustment apparatus that may be set whereby an operator may make an adjustment with a stroke having a definite and predetermined direction and magnitude.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the foregoing character whereby the operator may repeat with precision the forces applied in a given treatment, the apparatus being capable of adjustment whereby the direction and the magnitude of the forces as required may be varied.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for spinal adjustment in which the adjustments may be made with extreme rapidity and in a manner whereby the applied. pressure is completely removed instantly after reaching the maximum, thereby permitting the innate l forces to determine the ultimate position of the vertebrae.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the saine consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the spinal adjustment apparatus;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing devices for accomplishing an angular adjustment I of the head and also rotary adjustment thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 5 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure l of the plunger or contact member;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure l, showing the cam and clutch device for the operation of the drum upon which the operating cable is wound;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line '1 '1' of Figure l;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the upper end of the standard, showing the indicator (Cl. 12S-69) for determining horizontally swinging adjustments of the laterally extending arm;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the upper end of the standard; and

Figure l0 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing the indicator associated with the inner pivoted end of the head of the apparatus.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings and particularly Figure 1, the reference character l5 designates a standard or support having an arm i6 projecting laterally of the upper end thereof, the arm it carrying a head Il at its free end and from which head il, a plunger or contact member I8 depends.

The standard l5 comprises a tubular member I9 having an enlarged base 2@ that carries a plate 2l to facilitate mounting of the tubular member i9 upon the work table, bench, door or other support. Y

The arm i6 comprises a tubular elbow dened by a horizontal arm 22 and a depending tubular leg 23 that telescopes into the tubular member i 9 of the standard I5. Means is provided for effecting vertical adjustment of the tubular leg 23 in the tubular member I9 with devices for indicating such adjustment and as shown in Figures l, and 7 to 9, the upper end oi the tubular member i9- is fashioned to provide a clamp and a support for a pinion, the clamp construction comprising a pair of semi-circular strap members 24 and 25, the latter comprising a section 25 hinged thereto as at 2l with cooperating lugs 28 and 29 projecting from opposite ends of the strap members 24 and 25. A length of semi-circular rack teeth 3Q extends partly around the side of the tubular leg 23 to be engaged by a pinion 3i carried by a pin 32 journalled in the lugs 28, the pinion being operated by the handle 33 on the pin 32. When the tubular leg 23 has been properly adjusted relative to the tubular member I9, the hinged clamp member 'it carried by the strap 25 is tightened by the screw 34 threaded through the lugs 29 and operated by the handle 35, the clamp member comprising the straps 24 and 25 being moved into binding engagement with the tubular leg 23. To determine the length of vertical adjustment of the tubular leg 23 in the tubular member i9, the leg 23 adjacent its upper end is provided with circumferentially eX- tending gage. lines i shown more clearly in Fig'- ure 9 with which the arrow or indicator 3l at the upper end of the tubular member i9 is associated. To determine angular adjustments in the horizontal plane of thelarm 22, a graduated dial 38 shown more clearly in Figures l, 8 and 9 is carried by the end of the arm 22 extending over the leg 23, the indicator associated with the dial comprising a rod 39 having a pointer 4I! cooperating with the dial, the rod being carried by a ring 4I rotatable upon the upper end of the leg 23 with the lower end of the rod 39 extending through guide members 42 carried by the tubular member I6 for restraining the rod and indicator 48 against movement during horizontally swinging movements of the arm 22. The indicator rod 39 extends downwardly between the clamp lugs 29 as shown in Figure l7.

The arm I5 embodying the horizontal arm section 22 also includes an arm section 43 that telescopes in the arm 22 and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the arm section 43 is both rotatable and longitudinally adjustable relative to the arm 22 with means for holding the two arms in adjusted position. A clamp member 44 is located at the free end of the arm 22, being hinged to the arm as at 45 and bindingly engaged with the arm 43 by means of the clamping screw 46. Cross-gage lines 41 are formed on the arm 43 as shown in Figure 2 and with which the indicator finger or arrow 48 carried by the arm 22 cooperates for determining rotary and longitudinal adjustment of the arm 43 relative to the arm 22. As shown in Figure l, the arm 43 is of tubular formation and the end thereof projecting from the arm 22 is enlarged and cut away to provide a support substantially U-shaped in cross-section, having a bottom wall 49 and side walls 50 as shown in Figure 3, outwardly offset extensions 5I being carried by the side walls 5U as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The head I1 carrying the contact member or plunger being pivotally mounted between the wall extensions 5I for adjustment to various angular positions.

The head I1 comprises a block body 52 carrying a receptacle 53 at the upper side thereof with a removable cover 54 and a pair of legs 55 projecting from a side wall of the receptacle 53 for pivotal mounting between the side wall extensions 5l. A pinion 56 is formed on the inner face of the free end of each side leg 55 of the casing 53 and a pin 51 extends through the pinions 58 and keyed thereto legs 55 and side wall extensions 5I for the pivotal mounting of the head I1. A rack bar 58 is slidably mounted upon the bottom wall 49 of the support at the outer end of the arm 43 and normally extends beyond the bottoni wall for engagement with. the pinions 55. Angular adjustments of the head I1 are accomplished by moving the head on the pivot pin 51, this action causing the pinions 56 to slide the rack bar 58 between the side walls 50 of the support and to hold the head I1 in its shifted angular position, means is provided for arresting movement of the rack bar 58. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the rack bar 58 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 59 through which the screw pin 68 extends, one end of the screw pin threading into an opening in a side Wall 5I! of the support, the opposite side wall 56 having a slotted opening therein to accommodate the mounting of a clamping bar 6I that is engaged with the rack bar 58 and through which the screw pin 5E! extends. A collar 62 is carried by the pin 58 for engagement with the clamping bar 6I for moving the same into binding engagement with the rack bar 58 and to clamp the latter against movement between a side wall 58 of the support and the clamping bar. An operating handle 53 is carried by the screw pin 66. The degree of angularity of the head I1 and contact member I8 is shown on an indicator (see Figures 2, 4 and l0) comprising a pointer 64 carried by a projecting end of the pin 51 and cooperating with a circular series of graduations 65 on the adjacent side wall extension 5|.

A part of the operating mechanism for the plunger or contact member I8 is carried by the head I1 and casing 53 thereof and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the body portion 52 of the head il is provided with an axial bore 66 through which the plunger rod 51 rotatably and slidably extends. The upper end of the shaft 61 is normally disposed midway the upper and lower ends of the casing 53 with a pair of grooved wheels 68 and 69 xed thereto in vertically spaced relation, the upper terminal end of the shaft 61 having a disk 10 xed thereto above the grooved wheels 68 and 69. The shaft 61 is normally held at its limit of upward movement by means of the coil v spring 1I extending between the disk 1I) and the top wall 54 of the casing 53. A thrust movement is adapted to be imparted to the shaft 61 and contact member I8 carried thereby and also a partial rotary movement, the shaft 61 being initially rotatably set and then rotated to zero position during the thrust movement imparted to the shaft. As shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the shaft 61 has a key socket 12 therein that receives the key end 13 of a shaft 14 that projects through an opening in the top wall 54 of the casing 53 with a disk head 15 upon the upper end of the shaft 14 that carries a pointer 18 working over a dial on the top face of the casing cover 54. The operating means for imparting thrust movement to the shaft 51 includes a cam 'I'I fixed to a shaft 18 journalled in bearings 19 in the head casing 53, the cam being engaged with the disk 1I) as shown in Figure 1 for limiting upward movement of the disk and shaft 61. A coil spring 8D extends between the shaft I8 and wall of the head casing 53 for normally holding the cam 11 in the position shown in Figure l.

The contact member I8 as shown in Figures 1 and 5 comprises a tubular member 8| having a key 82 at one end to be received in a key socket 83 in the lower end of the shaft outwardly of the block body 52 of the head I1 and to be retained therein by a spring clip 84. slidably projects through an opening in the lower end of the tubular member 8I and carries a cushion block 86 for body contact at its lower end. The inner upper end of the stem carries a block 81 provided with lateral pins 88 projecting through side slots 89 in the tubular member 8| to prevent rotary movement of the block 85 relative to the tubular member, the stem 85 and block 81 carried thereby being normally held at their limit of lowered movement relative to the tubular member 8| by means of a coil spring 90 within the tubular member that is interposed between the block 81 and oatingr block 9|, midway the ends of the tubular member. A relatively stronger thrust spring 92 is arranged in the upper end of the tubular member 8| between the upper closed end thereof and the floating block SI and is of the desired pressure or tension for imparting a predetermined thrust, figured lin pounds, to the cushion block 86. It is to be understood that a plurality of contact members I8 is provided with thrust springs 92 of various tension so that the desired thrust pressure may be imparted to a cushion block 86.

Thrust movements may be imparted to the A stem 85 at the upper end of the standard to be directed the cable |92 attached to one end of the cross bar IOI passing partly arcundv the grocved wheel 68 and anchored thereto .While the cableY |03 attached to the other end of the cross bar IBI passes around the opposite side of thegrooved Wheel B9 and is anchored thereto. A cable orcord |04 is attached at one end to the inner end of the' slide bar 99, the same passing over a pulley and attached at its other end to the grooved wheel |06 secured to the shaft I8 for rotating the shaft 'I8 and cam 'Il carried thereby against the ten-v sion of the spring 8i). The operating means for the cable drum 93 includes a pedal bar Il'l'l pivoted Within the enlarged base 20 of the standard I5 and projecting througha slotted opening Ii in a side Wall of the base, the inner end of the pedal bar IU'I being pivotally supported upon a shaft |09 that supports the cable drum and having a cam portion I I9 engaged with a cam member III for effecting movement of the cam IIB, carrying clutch teeth H2 inte engagement with clutch teeth I|3 on the adjacent end of the cable drum 93. The pedal bar |91 is returned to its normal position after operation by means of the coil spring IIl and said cable drum 93 is returned to its normal position by means ofthe spring I I5 associated therewith as shown in Figure 1.

While the apparatus disclosed herein is capable of adjusting the entire vertebrae system of the spinal column, the same has been primarily designed. to eifect adjustment of luxations present in the atlas and axis at the end of the spinal 1 column and at the base of the skull. In the practice of chiropractic or adjustment of the spinal column of the human body such treatments have heretofore been made by hand to free the impinged nerves that cause deranged functions.

When the hands are alone used, to accomplish such adjustment, it is impossible to impart the exact desired thrust in precisely the direction required to remove the displacement of the articular joint or vertebrae. The apparatus disclosed in this application is designed to impart the exact degree of thrust pressure necessary to overcome an impingement and also to impart the desired twist simultaneously with the thrust action. While any of the vertebrae of the spine `may become displaced, and may even cause a curvature, it is believed thatnerve impingement isl caused primarily by subluxations or displacements of the rst and second cervicals, known respectively as the atlas and the axis, adjoining the base of the skull. The present invention was therefore designed for adjusting the atlas and axis. The apparatus may be adjusted for thrust and torque contact with various points on either cervical. The points of contact preferred for 'f use in most cases are the right and left transverse process on the atlas, and therim-Ofthe. atlas between the spinous process and either transverse process; and the spinous processo'f the axis.

The person to be treated is placed on a table vor other support and the apparatus adjusted' with'4 the cushion block 85 engaged Withthe 'determined' part of the body and the .desired pressure ofsuch y engagement is determined bythe 'mark-or .indi-LV Gator 85a on the plunger stem 85 as shown-1in Figure l that moves upwardly into the-lower end of the tubular member 8| with the blockdZl-I- -on the upper end of the stem causing a compression of the relatively weak spring 99. The apparatus! is adjusted-as to height and angularity and when it is desired to impart a partial revolution to the cushion block 3 6, simultaneously with thrust movement imparted. thereto, theA shaft 61 is par-Y tially' rotated to the desired degree Iby ther disks head 15011 the upper endof the smallerz'sliaft 74:' The rotatable adjustment of theshaft'l reduces fslackjin oneof the cables |92 orf'IlltA and increases slack in the other cable. When thel cable drum es is operated by the pedal' m1,;

the came s4 that has the Cable 'm4 attached thereto operates the cam 'I'I against the tension of the spring 8D to lower the disk I0 rand shaft 67 by thrust movement, the taut cable 'I02or |93 simultaneously effecting a partial revolution of the shaft 61 and contact' member I8 carried thereby. The shaft 51 and contact member I8" To re-set the contact member, the hand leverv II6 shown in Figure 2 as projecting through a Wall of the casing 53- andpivctally -mounted therein as at |I'I .has the leg I|8 thereof enr',k gaged with a lug projection IIs on the disk 'il whereby the disk may be manually lowered by,

the re-set lever IIB to position the disk 'Iil below theV engaged flat face of the cam Il whereupon thespring 80.rotates the shaft 'i8 Vand cam .to restore the same to the position shown in Figure l.

It will be noted that precise adjustments may be repeated and be exact as to thrust torque and direction, or any of these factors varied by any desired `degree to be determined by the .gages associatedwith the adjustable elements. By the.

reading of an X-rayV photograph, or'by other means of diagnosis, the several gages of the apparatus may be initially set to give the required adjustment, the patient being definitely located relative to the apparatus. Also the apparatus may be arranged in duplicate so that simultaneous adjustments may be made on both transverse processes, one transverse process and the spi` nous, or any two'points of a given vertebrae, or on a point on one vertebra and a point on the adjacent vertebra.

Fromthe above detailed description of the invention,` it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will atonce be appa1ent,and

horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, the arm comprising rotatably adjustable telescoping sections, a head having a horizontal pivotal connection with the outer end of the arm and a tensioned thrust member depending from the head and detachably connected thereto.

2. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member, including a cam engaged with the thrust member and a manually operable cable having branches respectively engaged with the cam and thrust member.

3. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, the arm comprising rotatably adjustable telescoping sections, a head having a horizontal pivotal connection With the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member including a powered cable operatively connected to the thrust member, and the body engaging part of the thrust member being detachably engaged with the latter.

4. In a chiropractic machine, aV standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, and means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member, the horizontal arm including adjustably rotatable and extensible telescoping sections, the head being pivotally supported on the outer section and the thrust member being axially and rotatably movable in the head.

5, In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member, including a cam engaged with the thrust member and a manually operable cable having branches respectively engaged with the cam and thrust member, the horizontal arm including an adjustably rotatable and extensible section, the head being pivotally supported on the extensible section and the thrust member beingl axially and rotatably movable in the head.-

6. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member, including a cam engaged with the thrust member and a manually operable cable operatively connected with the cam and thrust member, a tensioned winding drum for the cable, a cam and clutch device for rotating the drum and the connections between the cable and the cam and thrust member including a cable extension from the aforesaid cable attached to the cam, a pair of grooved wheels xed on the upper end of the thrust member and a pair of auxiliary cables attached to the aforesaid cable and respectively attached to the two grooved wheels and wound thereon from opposite directions for imparting reverse directions of rotation to the thrust member.

7. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member, and the body engaging part of the thrust member being detachably engaged with the latter, a manually operable cable operatively connected with the thrust member, a tensioned winding drum for the cable, a cam and clutch device for rotating the drum and the connections between the cable and thrust member including a pair of grooved wheels fixed on the upper end of the thrust member and a pair of auxiliary cables attached to the aforesaid cable and respectively attached tothe two. grooved wheels and wound thereon from opposite directions for imparting reverse directions of rotation to the thrust member.

, 8. Ina chiropractic machine, a standard, a

horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably `adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, means for imparting a thrust and rotative movement to the thrust member, including a cam engaged with the thrust member and a manually operable cable operatively connected with the cam and thrust member, the horizontal arm including an adjustably rotatable and extensible section, the head being pivotally supported on the extensible section and the thrust member being axially and rotatably movable in the head, a tensioned winding drum for the cable, a cam and clutch device for rotating the drum and the connections between the cable and thrust member including a pair of grooved Wheels fixed on the upper end of the thrust member, a pair of auxiliary cables attached to the aforesaid cable and respectively attached to the two grooved wheels and wound thereon from opposite directions for imparting reverse directions of rotation to the thrust member and another auxiliary cable connecting the first named cable to the cam engaged with the thrust member.

9. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm having a leg vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm and a thrust member depending from the head, a cable operatively connected with the member for imparting a thrust and rotative movement thereto, and thel body engaging part of the thrust member being detachably engaged with the latter, the horizontal arm including an adjustably rotatable and extensible section, the head being pivotally supported on the extensible section and the thrust member being axially and rotatably movable in the head, a tensioned winding drum for the cable, a cam and clutch device for rotating the drum and the connections between the cable and thrust member including a pair of grooved wheels fixed on the upper end of the thrust member and a pair of auxiliary cables attached to the aforesaid cable and respectively attached to the two grooved wheels and wound thereon from opposite directions for imparting reverse directions of rotation to the thrust member.

l0. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm, a thrust member depending from the head and rotatable and reciprocable therein, a cable extending through the standard and arm, a manually operable tensioned drum at the lower end of the standard upon which one end of the cable is wound, and the other end of the cable having branch extensions operatively connected with the thrust member for imparting thrust and rotative movements thereto.

11. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm, a thrust member depending from the head and rotatable and reciprocable therein, a cam engageable with the upper end of the thrust member, a cable extending through the standard and arm, a manually operable tensioned drum at the lower end of the standard upon which one end of the cable is wound, and the other end of the cable having branch extensions operatively connected with the thrust member and cam for imparting thrust and rotative movements thereto.

12. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm, a thrust member depending from the head and rotatable and reciprocable therein, a cable extending through the standard and arm, a manually operable tensioned drum at the lower end of the standard upon which one end of the cable is wound, the other end of the cable having branch extensions operatively connected with the thrust member for imparting thrust and rotative movements thereto, the branch connections between the cable and thrust member including at least two cables wound on the thrust member respectively in opposite directions and normally having slack therein, and said thrust member adapted to be manually rotated for placing one of the branch connections under the desired tension for varying the degree and controlling the direction of rotation of the thrust member during operation" thereof.

13. In a chiropractic machine, a standard, a horizontal arm vertically and rotatably adjustable in the standard, a head adjustably carried by the outer end of the arm, a thrust 'member depending from the head and rotatable and reciprocable therein, a cam engageable with the upper end of the thrust member, a cable extending through the standard and arm, a manually operable tensioned drum at the lower end-of the standard lupon which one end of the cable is wound, the other end of the cable having branch sion for Varying the degree and controlling the o direction of rotation of the thrust member during operation thereof. y

LEON A. POLITIS. 

